MANY AND VARIED INTERESTS

Hokitika Guardian, 19 August 1930, Page 2

MANY AND VARIED INTERESTS

THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL

SIDELIGHTS ON VISIT TO' CANTERBURY.

CHRISTCHURCH, August 16

“Oh, isn’t, lie nice? lie had me talking about my job as if 1 had known '’him all my life. He’s just like, anyone else.” • ■; , - These words, used by a girl in Aulse- ' brook’s factory after the GovernorGeneral had spoken to her during his visit there, sum up the impression that very many people of humble station have -formed of his Majesty’s representative in New Zealand.

Lord Bledisloe remarked in an address at Canterbury College that an aristocracy of intellect was more to be desired than an aristocracy of caste, and during his visit here he has proved that this was not merely an empty phrase. Wherever he has gone, his Excellency ; has left the impression that lie is a very human person. To the initiated, Ins comments and questions on farming and scientific subjects are at once a surprise and a delight. His dry humour and his understanding put people at their ease, and they give him of their best, because they see at once that his inquiries are the fruit of a genuine desire for knowledge. In nil his contacts with people of humble station, there is not the slightest hint of patronage. Men and women find themselves talking hard to him before they realise it.

COOKING AND CHEMISTRY. At the Winter Show Lord Bledisloe talked for some time -with a woman demonstrating a cooking range, s nnd before lie went asked for one of her pikelets, which he pronounced very good:, A.t .Canterbury College he. carried ,oii. a:learned discussion with a jejieraistry ;prqfessor. ;’His interest lie everywhere' between I .these two,' and his interest ;is ge'irainq.

vThere are hi&Hy.'New Zealanders who carry-their democratic 0 feelings yto a point where ;-they despise title merely on prinfcipleu'ipiey received tlieir- first surprise during .Lore); Blddisloe’s first visit to Chmtcjiurch.' ' U ; Lord Bledisipfe’s interest in’ farming led him. naturally to the J;j|ddihgton YaVdii/to-see ope of the weekly],sides. Hi's interest' '-ill the entry of;|j>i^'was* perhaps' more "intense than. in ;auy. part of the sale, and the superdemocrats \vqre stirred to see his Majesty’s representative ill New Zealand handling tt fat porker ; the subject of It discussion which left the. delighted owner itu.tto doubt of ; the Governor’s knowledge of practical farming. His talk with the breeder of this particular pig was not all praise; In-fact, his Excellency was not; slow, to point , out its faults j aha* showed an accurate knowledge of the requirements of both the local market and the export trade.

“Done for effect,” said some, but there were many who had their doubts. . .., ... . .... •

ATTHETREASE. It is very noticeable that anyone to whom Lord Bledisloe speaks is perfectly at ease almost from the start of the conversation. • An incident at the Islington Freezing'Works yesterday morning was .typical of. i.irtnnjh ;Umlerterr'ed by the foul smell of the fertiliser plant. Lord Bledi* sloe, determined to see ythis important side of the company’s activities. He put oil ,a white overall, and went right through the plant. A machine which performs part of the. process of manufacturing meat meal inteiosted him. He applied to the man in chaige of the machine for information, and the rest of the party watched smiling, while the workman, warming to his job; explained the process with many to the Governor-General, who watched absorbed while levers were pulled, covers were opened and shut, and the machine stopped and started.

Much the same thing happened at Canterbury College. The visit cf the Governor and Lady Bledieloe was scheduled to take only a few minutes, but, on account of the many interesting things his Excellency found in the science, engineering and forestry schools, he did not leave till nearly two hours had passed. It must be admitted that part of this time was taken up in an address to the students, an address filled with clear reasoning and a certain dry humour, and delivered with, a quiet directness more effective than the most flowery language. The address so impressed the students that certain unruly souls among them, who had promised themselves a little gentle heckling, found themselves listening with all their attention to the quiet voice which dissected so clearly problems common to all men of education. IN THE LABORATORY.

In one of the science laboratories, Lady Bledisloe and the rest of the party again found themselves constrained to wait while the GovernorGeneral argued with a researcher about an experiment he was then making. The jargon of the scientist filled the room, and the student and the King’s representative met as equals on ’ the common field of science.

Lord Bledisloe has tile priceless gift of stimulating the pride of a craftsman in his work, and thus, when lie is having a machine or a method explained to him, the explanation is that of an enthusiast, at ease because lie is oil familiar ground. An exhibition of pressed and baled hay of different sorts at the Winter, Show aroused the interest of Lord Bledisloe as soon as he” saw it. He talked for a long time with the man who got the exhibit together, and announced his intention of going to the farm at some future date to see the process.

For anything connected with farming, and especially scientific fanning, the Governor has unbounded interest and takes every opportunity of discussing a subject which is genuinely near his heart. He is a thoroughly practical farmer, as well as being a distinguished scientist, and in all his contacts with farmers shows a wealth of sympathetic understanding. A BUSY MAN. Oil ‘any of his inspections of manufacturing plants, Lord Beldisloe is a very busy man. ’ Anything lie has not seen before lie wants explained, and his questions, born of unaffected interest, are to the point. His thanks' are sin-, cere, and, where it is given, liis praise is well merited.

His progress through' the country is in the nature of a crusade, because on every occasion ■< lie preaches Empire trade. If he is told that an article has been imported from a foreign country, his first question is, “Can’t you get it from Eliglaiid?” He was delighted when told by a stallholder at the Winter Show that , all the wire used in the manufacture of certain goods came from either England or Canada, At Islington, the preserving plain claimed Lord Bledisloe’s interest, and his comment on the statistics supplied sljow it. ' .’>■ Lord Bledisloe is rapidly winning the affection and esteem, of the people of New Zealand, by his human kindness and his knowledge of the problems which face everyone. .